Merchandise vending machine



Oct. 2l, 1952 A. oBoDzlNsKl MERCHANDISEVENDING MACHINE 4 Shee'gs-Sheet 1 Filed June 9. 1949 Oct. 2l, 1952 A. oBoDzlNsKl 2,614,673

MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed June 9. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l/,doz @400 Oct. 2l, 1952 A. BoDzlNsKl 2,614,673

MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet I5.

Oct. 21, 1952 A. oBozINsKl 2,614,673

MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed June 9. 1949 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 21,y 1952v MERCHANDISE vEN'nINcr` l Anton oboazinski, chieaganl; Application Jungle, 1949, serial No. 98,1109,

k'This invention relates to merchandise vending machines, and more particularly to improvements incoin contrnlled merchandise vending machines or the ltypefadapted to dispense .a vplurality [of varied types [of merchandise (simultaneously. Specifically, this inventionis directedto imprlOVements in the measuring and/dispensing mechanism ofthemachine.,v Y l f' f Heretofor'e vending machines of' the `type adapted to dispense ball-shapedconfections and the likel have been generallyv constructed with a measuring anddispensin'gI ,mechanism comprising a pair of plates horizontally positi'onedbelovv the' merchandise, andfadapted by'thelmovementof Aone'pl'ate over the other to dispense a measured amountV of merchandise through a chute.

Since the dispensing of' the `mer h andise dependedupon the admissi on` offthe same Within an openingin the top plate'andfthe alignment of this cpeningj'wit'h 'a similar opening in the bottom ."plate, merchandise was often crushed yor otherv/jise injured by 'the plates during the' dispensing thereof'. Moreover', all of these vdispensersWere characterized by af common .fault lin 'that `they 'frequently failed to dispense merchandisedespite the fact that", thendesignatedffcoin wasfvproperly inserted and the actuating mechanism correctly y vmanipulated'. ,They Were 'further characterized by a rather complicatedrnechanism. comprising Anumerous parts. l l Itis,` therefore, a primaryobject of ,this invention to provide a merchandise vending machine which lvvill overcome all of the disadvantages set forth'abovei A Another object is to aord a dispensing mechanismin a merchandise Vending machine Which Will minimize the frequency of yfailure to dispense merchandise. An object relating thereto is tosc design the Vdispensing mechanism that the mathematical probability of *failure to dispense is reduced by atleast one-third.

'A Afurther object `is to provide a dispensing machine'with a simplied dispensing'mechanism comprising a reduced number of component parts.

"Still another object is to aord a dispensing mechanism for use Vin a merchandising machine which will eliminater the possibility of injury .to the merchandise during the dispensing thereof.

"In recent years the merchandising of ball gum confections and the like through coin controlled dispensing machines has beencomplicated by the "additionv of premiums,v such as small charms, 'which are dispensedalong with the merchandise. vThese charms' are often soshaped that .they vare likely tolbe drawn into the narrow space between 2 Claims.

@Lim-2,)

"the dispensing plates of the'ol'd' machines. Thus,

' they prevent the actuation of the machine `With Yelimina 'fthesubsequent"failure of dispensing. Further- 1no11e', i f force isexerted it y"can, and often does, result'n 'injury to the machine mechanism.

It is, therefore, anotherimportant' object of this invention to provide a vmerchandisevending 'machine' "which Willovercome!thisr aforementioned objection. An object relating thereto is to provide la dispensing mechanism which entirely A es the usev of a vpluralityof cooperating rotating dispensing plates. f

' 1 stm a further object is to proviaeamefchanf'- 'dising :dispensing machine, theactuation of which requires considerably less Work than in thev m'achines heretofore `used'. Anbject relating there- `to i'lsto so construct the machine that: yinstead 'of 'requiring a full 360 rotation off the actuating knob," vas slightly morey than 180o4 rotation Will actuate the dispenser. This machine thusexvtends thef-use'therof to childr'en'lof younger age groups; e

Yet another object is to provide amerchandise dispensin'g'machine which will eliminate v'expcnsive and complicatedA transmission "mechanism by ail'ord`inga'direct drive;

Yet affurtherobject is'to provide a universal coin controlled bulk merchandise vending-mavchine'vvhich-vvill dispensea variety'of ball sizes including iall'standard sizes of 'gurnv balls in additiontojotherforms of merchandise such asnuts and confections, vand Lwill's irnultaneonsly dispense premiumfitems suchj ascharms. l

l v ndy yet furthefobject ist() provide aimerchandise vvending machine so constructed' that the replacement of parts thereinmayjbe.readily accomplished with ak minimum amountlo'f Work andskill. V

With vthe foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the descriptionproceeds,v the invention consists of certain novelv featuresof may `be madewithoutv departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the in'- vention. ,a

lFor. the 'purpose yof facilitating an understandin'g ofmy' invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred 'embodiment -thereofQirom an'inspection lof which, whencon'- sideredfin connection with the following descrip'- 2-2 in Fig. 3 showing in some detail the novel dispensing mechanism in its normal position before actuation thereof, and showing in dotted outline the open position of the cash box;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 3-3 in Fig. 2. and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view in which the dispensing mechanism is being actuated; Y

Fig.. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the plane of line 5 5y in Fig. 2 of the drawings, viewed in the direction indicated, and with a portion broken away to show a certain detail of construction; Fig. 6 is a fragmenary detail view taken on the plane of llineff---B inFig. 3, and viewed in the direction indicated;

. Fig. 7 is another fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of line 1-1 in Fig. 2, viewed inthe direction indicated, and with certain portions broken away to showdetails of construction; f 3

. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary partially sectional view takenon the plane of line 8-8`in Fig. 2, viewed in the direction indicated, and with a portion brokenfaway to show a certain detail of construction; and i Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the plane of line 9--9 in Fig. 3, and viewed in the direction indicated.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral I0 indicates generally a coin controlled merchandise vending machine comprising a merchandise storage member I2, here shown in the Aform of a transparent glass globe, mounted on a lpedestal i4 in which is mounted a dispensing mechanism.. generally indicated by thereference generally vertical walls 26, 28 and 3l!v with a slightly inclined front wall 32 and with a top closure member 34. This closure member 34 formsan important part of the dispensing mechanism, and further comprises the bottom closure for themerchandise storage globe i2, themerchandise resting directly thereon. This closure member 34 is generally inclined at an angleof approximately 20 from its periphery towards a central opening 36 defined by a pair of depending, parallel, vertical walls 31 and 39 integrally formed with the top closure member, and terminating in chute I8.

n In this central opening 36 is mounted a measuring and dispensing wheel 38 having a plurality of measuring and dispensing cylindrically shaped slots 40v formed transversely in the peripheral portion of the wheel 38. It is these Slots 40 that -in the slot.

receive and measure the merchandise M as the Wheel 38 is rotated therebeneath. A resilient measuring device 42 having a plurality of coiled brushes such as 44 is positioned to prevent the dispensing of any merchandise in excess of that contained with in the slot 40 into the chute I8. This is best illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Although the top closure member 34 is generally inclined towards the center, at least a portion thereof -isfdepressed .at one end towards a filling cavity 46 integrally formed therein. The function of this cavity is to permit the merchandise to drop therein so that when the first loading slot 40 of the wheel 38 comes in contact with the merchandise it should ordinarily drop with- However, if for some reason (such as arching of two or more articles over the opening) merchandise is prevented from entering therein, additional opportunities for lling the cavity is afforded as the wheel is rotated. It will be noted in Fig. 2 of the drawings that at least three slots are presented for filling beneath the merchandise M at one and the same time. Hence, each slot is rotated through three different positions beneath the merchandise so that at least three opportunities for filling the same are afforded before the contents of the slot reaches the dispensing position. Y

This depression 46 is formed with walls such as 48, 49, 50 and 5I, and is closed at the bottom by an integrallyformed inclined oor 53. The slope of at least a portion of the wall 50 1s nonsymmetrical with that of wall 48 to provide a depression of a shape which will prevent long, thin and substantially flat charms from being lodged therein, and thus barring the entrance to the slots 40. Such a charm'is illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The novel merchandise wheel 38 and its assembling structure forms an important part of this invention. Thus, the wheel 38 is mounted near the inner end of a shaft 52 'which extendsl through a boss 54 integrally formed with the outer wall 32 of the pedestal. To the outer protruding end of this shaft 52 an actuating knob such as 56 may be mounted and retained by a set screw 58. The actuation of the wheel 38 by means of shaft 52 may be controlled by any conventional coin mechanism such as 60, the details of construction of which need not here be illustrated.

The rotation of the wheel `38 is in turn limited by a novel mechanism also mounted on shaft 52 and controlled by the actuating knob 56 and coin mechanism 60. This mechanism comprises a pairof ratchet and pawl assemblies 62 and 64 'mounted one on each side of the wheel 38. In

Fig. 6 the rear ratchet and pawl assembly 64 is illustrated, and comprises a ratchet 66 having eight teeth such as B8 (one for each of the merchandise slots 40) which cooperate with a pawl 'I0 having a hook12 at one end. The pawl is pivotally mounted as at '14 and is spring urged downwardly by coil springs 'I6 affixed at the other end. This pawl 'I0 is normally urged downwardly so that the hook I2 engages a tooth 68 of the ratchet 66 to prevent the rotation thereof. Since the ratchet is keyed in with the wheel 38, in a manner which will be later described in detail, rotation of the ratchet 66 `also controls the rotation of the wheel 38. To permit rotation of the ratchet `66 and wheel 38 for dispensing merchanv Aengages the',flfromftheratchet .66,Lf andper- .Y mits its rotationfromione tooth tojfthelnext such tooth. (This is fully. 'disclosedv in my oo- The otherratchet and pawl s2 duplicates the mechanism above described, and vcomprises a pawl 19 and-.a ratchet wheel 8|. The teeth of this ratchet are reversed in direction to that of ratchet 56 to prevent rotationjinthe opposite direction., r-.'Ihepawl 19 of ...thisJratchet 8| is not affected by .the coin so that it can rotate onlyin one direction.

Thel entire rotating mechanisms 38, 8| and 66Y 'Y are removably mountedon the-shaft 52 in-afnovelf Crnanner'ito insure-cooperationtherebetweenr'and to `permit `ready removal and: replacement fof"- any component fvpart. Thus, it will be noted Vupon shaft52 ispjournaled through 'the wallig32, the

Vlcoin.mechanism vGil and through theffrotary mechanisms 8|, 38 and-66'.

The depending'walls -S'Iand 39 are formed with aligned openings-82 pending application, Serial'No. 135,354; filedDe- ,cember 28, 1949;)`

'the entire; assembly. ,The barrel, 1,34 may further examination cfa-Fig. 5 of -the-drawings-thatfthe; 20I

and 84. The ratchet wheels 82 and 68 are-formed 'with bosses 88 and 881 which may be rotatablyv mounted within the openings 82 and 84. The shaft 52 is formed with a key-way which cooperbe removed lfrom the pedestal to permit replenisht t ing of the stock of merchandise therein 'and also to lock the globe to the pedestal, a novel but eiective structure is provided. This same structure also locks the cash box 88, and the removal of the globe from the pedestal simultaneously The entire above described mecha-.

ateswith a, similar key-way'02 forme.d` .in each Vof the rotatable members 8|, 38' and 66 for the opens the cash box.` As was previously described,

the pedestal I4 comprises two cooperating members 22 and 24, which may be assembled' as by an offset flange 98 formed at the bottom of walls 26, 28, and 32. The lower member 24 serves as'the cash box' 80 and for this purpose it is provided with a bottom closure member |00. Heretofore, in the old machines, the cash box; pedestal and merchandise globe were assembled and secured together by means of a central vertical rod. i

However, in the present invention a central assembling rod cannot be utilized because of the radical 'change in the design of the dispensing mechanism I6. Moreover, the assembling mech-y anisms heretofore used were objectionable in that .they permitted vcomplete separation of the coin box from the pedestal of the machine. This often resulted in the coin box dropping with resultant scattering and lossof the coins.

To overcome the above mentioned objections,

' to the position,'also shown in'dot v Fig, 2 df the drawings.,v 'Howeverfitjisj important "to notethat'the cash 'b ""'YCH'IYQET from ythe .mfchl disengaging the rodsV I0 "Secured-.as 'by railisyof..C@oreraine-i11isf;.Ifl'4` 'd V| ltova spider v| I8.." This spider-Lis lfr )rme 'an upstanding, `screwthreaded entral bolt |20 which isadaptedto secure th der to a 'mer- This securing means com ,rises ja locliassemb'ly |24Y adapted forth'readingI throughff' central opening |26 in the ycover l |22 "This 'lclc'oniprises anV outer cylinder |'28jiia-n'gedv as 'atll and provided with a' rcooperatirig nut |3 2f the purpose of securing the lockf|24ftothe cover. |22. withinV the cylinder' v12e an' internally threaded lhollow barrel |34`isprovided. "This Ibarrel |34' v'is designed'to receivejthereinfthe screwthreaded spider'bolt` |20'for the purpose ofuthussecuiing be provided withY a key hole, |36intojwhichrmay be inserted .la key (not Shown) toi permit "the une screwing ofthe barrel |34 fromfthejspiderjb'olt |29. when-meis Iunserewai mespicerjl'lcfmay 'be lowered until it rests upon the'v merehan ise M (as shown'in'liig, *2' of the"drawings)l` A",'Ivhis then also lowers the rods |02, I 0`4f'andi LOSWith lthe simultaneous loweringA ,Of'the 0 cannot y be entirely bottom member |08, and hencecannot drop out during servicing of the machine.

Thev machine is provided with a hinged chute cover v|38 which protrudes from the pedestall Y front 32. at the top and bottom of globe |2 for providing Gaskets |48 and |42 may be provided water-tight seals between the globe and the cover |22 and pedestal i4 respectively. To further insure proper dispensing, the wheel slots may be formed with a slight taper inclined towards the chute I8. It is also important to note that the entire upper pedestal 22 may be mechanism 60 which momentarily lifts pawl '|0 l contents into chute I8.

a novel securing mechanism has been designed.' t

which comprises a set of three vertical rods |02,

|04 and |06 equally spaced one from the other about, but not through, the central dispensing mechanism I6. The lower portions of each of these rods are screw 'threaded as at |08, threaded through bottom member |00 and secured as by nuts l Ill. The upper ends of these rods |02, v|04 and |06 may also be screw threaded as at 2 and from ratchet 66 thereby releasing it. This permits the shaft 52 vto rotate the wheel 38 beneath the merchandise M. The slot 40 which is nearest brush 42 moves thereunder until it dumps its The .brush removes any excess balls,ebut permits thelcharms C to pass through between its coils 44. As the wheel rotates another slot 40 is moved into contact with the merchandise M at the lowest part of the cavity 46v and subsequent actuations will move this slot to the dispensing position. From the coin mechanism the coin drops into the box the pawl 10 snaps back to its normal position; the pawl hook '|2 engages the next pawl tooth At8, and once more locks the shaft 52.

It is 'believed that'my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Y Patent of the United States is:

1. In a coin controlled vending machine, a

Tpedestal having. a lower portion constituting a ings, dispensing mechanism in the top section fcommunicating with the storage member through YVthe bottom opening thereof, a cover for the top opening of said storage member, rods disposed vertically through the pedestal and the storage member and slidably passing through portions lof the dispensing mechanism and having lower vends rigidly secured to the lower pedestal section, a plate in said storage member and with which upper ends of said rods are connectedl f, serving to limit downward movement of the rods by engagement" with material in the storage ,member when the upper pedestal section is shiftedzupwardly for removal of coins from the ycoin box., formed by the lower pedestal section,

a post extending upwardly from said plate, and afastener for said cover detachably engaged with said post.

' n 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the dis- Ipensingr mechanism has a flared upper portion `upon which the storage member rests with a portion of the said'ared upper portion extending through the bottom opening into the storage member, the rods slidably passing through openings in the flared upper portion of the dispensing mechanism, and the plate with which upper ends of the rods are connected being a spider and thereby allow the storage member to be readily filled when the cover is removed.

ANTON OBODZINSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 898,995 Simpson Sept. 15, 1908 910,246 Travis Jan. 19, 1909 993,860 McGill May 30, 1911 1,101,653 Millard June 30, 1914 1,134,305 Wiesner Apr. 6, 1915 1,192,019 Taylor July 25, 1916 1,239,753 Antoine et al Sept. 1l, 1917 1,250,774 Behrens Dec. 18, 1917 1,398,351 Williams Nov. 29, 1921 1,441,438 Leonhardt Jan. 9, 1923 2,076,513 Hoban Apr. 6, 1937 2,365,165 Bauman et al Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,371 Great Britain 0f 1899 

